CHAPLAIN'S CRITICISM

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2147, 13 May 1914, Page 8

CHAPLAIN'S CRITICISM

ON TAKAPAU CAMP REMARKS. ON SUBAtTEBNS AND SUNDAY SCENES. (By TcleEraph— Press Association.! Palmerston N., May 12. ■ In the course of a severe criticism in the "Standard" regarding the recent ■ Takapau camp, the Kcv. F, W. Boys, a ■ chaplain, says: "Two classes of men interested in this movement' wed to he . closely watched by tho public—first, the ; 'Knglish Tommy' typo of permanent ; man who all the time forgets that this [ i 3 a citizen army, and can only be run . by retaining the goodwill of tho lads; , the man who would- bo 'down' on every i complaint, deny that any man ever had , a grievance, who yearns to increase the . severity of tho system, and who talks wildly about excluding reporters from ; tho camp, and censures the Press. Then i tho young subaltern is a great problem. . I cannot speak too highly of soma of ■ them, but others, 'clothed in a little brief authority/ simply goad men to , mutiny, and by bad example when off duty would destroy the discipline of 'any camp. Mere boys themselves, they , havo neither knowledge of human naturo nor a sense of responsibility adc- , quato to their position. Had the non- ; commissioned officers (who won my ad- . miration) behaved as some subalterns behaved, they would have lost their stripes at once. "Tho authorities are face to, face with tho whole question of Sunday in earop, whether the men have a grievance or not. I have no hesitation hi saying that if Sunday afternoon is used for a football match, with all its attendant excitement,- the men will get out of hand, and there will to trouble. I am. sure if I .could have transferred th-o scenes and language used at Takapan on Sunday afternoon and evening to, say, Lambton Quay, Wellington, there' are hundreds of Christian parents who would sooner go to prison than havo their boys forced to spend a Sunday under such'conditions. I "feel that this movement needs jealously watching, aiid that enormous 'expense is being thrust upon ratepayers for littlo'material good and' for grave, moral harm. I think that no - married man should: bo, forced to go' into. ; camp, that' the""time . in camp should, bo reduced, and 'the whole burden, lightened. •".'.'''' • "My final criticism is .that General Godloy' should havo endured the same. hardness as our boys were asked to faco; he should have slept in a. tent at the camp and not softly in the Johnston mansion." ANOTHER CHAPLAIN'S VIEWS, There is at least one chaplain (writes a correspondent) who holds a somewhat different view from tho Rev, Sir. Boys. While tho chaplain hi question much regretted that a football match was permitted to bo hold on tho Sunday, and while ho says that there was some, bad language made use of, be totally differs from the Methodist minister in his.criticism of tho officers, and J tho way in which ho introduces hjs cri-1 ticism to- tho public at large. "I saw j nothing and heard nothing," he, said, j "which would lead me to" think .that any section of-officers should havo been singled out for such, remarks as Mr. Boys has made. 1 was particularly anxious to see how the officers dealt with the follows, and I feel convinced 'that they did everything they could for their benefit and welfare, except, as I say, apart from tho football match! In a mixed crowd such as thero was (in fact,' in almost any large crowd) you will unfortunately find those who uso had language. i repeat that it is much to be regretted, and in this instance, as a Christian man, I consider there might have been stronger action taken. Bui in so far as officers and men were concerned tkcro seemed to be a general disposition to work on' tho best of terms, and they did work on tho best of terms. AH wanted to help qiuj another." The chaplain add.ed that he considered it a gra-tuitious insult to make the references to General Godloy which Mr. Boys appeared to havo done. In discussing the matter with other members of the religions world it was pointed out that while the Anglicans, Koman Catholics, Salvation Army, and Presbyterians had marquees erected for tho uso and benefit of tho men, and bad a well-arranged programme to make tho lot of the men as comfortable as possible, the Methodists had apparently no marqueo - and no specified programme. Our correspondent adds that ''the severe criticisms" of Mr, Boys are apparently little more than carping criticisms. THE PRESBYTERY AND.THE GAMP Tho Rev. J. M'Caw moved at yester*. day's meeting of the Presbytery, and the Rev. j. dimming seconded, a motion expressing regret that in spite of assurances given by the' authorities that Sunday parades would not bo required from the troops, yet arrangements were made whereby the Fifth Regiment, headed by tho regimental band! were .to parade the streets of Wellington on arrival of tho train conveying the troops, who had already spent tho Sunday travelling to, their bo-toes, ' The Rov. J. M'Caw stated that the . following telegram had been sent, to Lieutenant-Colonel Turner on May 9 in the.name and bis behalf of the- Presbyterian Church of New Zealand;—"l protest against' tho proposed needless parade of Territorials through Wellington streets. to-morrow) thus . further violating the sanctity of the Christian Sabbath. (Signed), William M'Ara, Moderator of. General Assembly," *' The Rev. -William Shirer agreed in the protest against every form of Sabbath desecration, and said he would continue to so should necessity again require. He pointed out that from testimony re», | ceived from chaplains and others, efforts htyd been made to moot tlio'religious needs of the mett in camp, and that the cordial co-operation of tho authorities in this Matter had been recognised.